Ice cube remover



` WITNES ICE CUBE REMovER Filed May 17, 1957 s sheets-sheet 1 June 1l, 1940.

c. R. cARNEY 2,203,892

ICE CUBE REMUVER Filed May 17, 1937 '3 Sheets-Sheet 2` INVENTOR ATTORNEYS C. R. CARNEY ICE CUBE REMOVER Filed May 17, 1937 June 11, 1940.

INVENTO ATTORNEYS all 59 h Je Patented June l1, 1940 PATENT oFFicEA I CE CUBE REMOVER Clifford R. Carney, Miami, Fla., assignor to Nash-A Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit, Mich.; a corporation of Maryland Application May 17, 1937, Serial No. 143,162 5 Claims. (Cl. (i2-108.5)

The invention relates to an ice cube remover and more particularly to devices for either releasing ice cubes from ice trays or pans or the ice cube racks therefrom and the ice cubes `from such racks in a single operation.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherein each pocket within an ice cube trayor pan or each space of an ice cube rack as releasably held within the ice tray or pan has associatedv there-4 with a releaser for the 'dislodgment of an ice cube frozen therein so as to enable the removal of the ice cubes either from the pan or tray or from the rack as fitted within the tray or pan and in the latter instance the rack will be bodily extracted from the tray or pan in a single operation 4oi' the device thus relieving the tedious and laborious work of the removal of the ice cubes from the tray or'pan in the usual well-known manner by subjecting the content of the, tray or pan to heat or to hot or cold water flowing from a spigot, faucetor the like or as held within a container.

Another object of the invention is the provision oi' a device of this character wherein through the action of a releaser a break can be had within an ice cube preferably at the point where the4 same has become frozen to the ice or pan and a rack or gridas may be contained therein and without any material waste of the ice or undulybreaking the cubes at the time of removal.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of this character, wherei lthe construction in its entirety isnovelandin) the working thereof eliminates excessive labor on t e part of the user for the removal or extract .of ice cubes from an icepan or tray as employed in refrigerant or` ice making machines of the Present day typer and assuring quick removal of any appreciable melting.,

the ice cubes without o'f the same.

A smi. further object of the invention is the f provision of a device of this character, which is simple in its construction, reliable and easy of operation, efcient in the working thereof, strong,

durable, convenient for use, readily applicable to an ice tray or pan, .and inexpensive to manufacture."

With these and other objects in view, the

invention `consists in thefeatures of construction, combination and arrangement .of parts as will be hereinafter more fully describedrillustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred and modified forms of em- 5 bodiment ofthe invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the acompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a specially formed ice tray or pan showing the device constructed l in accordance with the invention applied thereto and of simplified and preferred embodiment thereof. l

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure l looking in the` direction of the arrows. l A

Figure 3;is a fragmentary top plan view similar to Figure 1 showing the device in a completed releasing position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line l-l of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows. 2o

Figure 5 is a. fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view through the device in the position .nently joined with the tray or pan.

Figure 8 is a top plan view showing a further 30 modification.

l Figure 9 is a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional view thereof. r

Figure l0 is a fragmentary plan view of the ice cube grid or rack included in the modified form shown in Figures 8 and 9.

Figure 11. is a fragmentary top plan view of a still further modification of the device.

Figure l2 is a sectional view on the line i2-I2 of Figure l1 looking in the direction of the 40 arrows. v f

Figure 13 is a sectionalview on the line |3-i3 of Figure 11 looking in the direction of the Figure 18 is a sectional view onthe line IIB-I8 Iof Figure 17 looking in the direction of the nates generally a specially prepared ice cube4 tray or pan comprising a sheet metal body 'I Il flat throughout the upper side thereof and is preferably of substantially rectangular shape having the rounded corners II while at opposite f sides of the longitudinal center ofthis body I0 and struck therefrom are transverselyy spaced substantially circular shaped downwardly tapered ice cube pockets I2, these being of uniform depth and diameter throughout the vseries'or group thereof. Adapted to be associated with this tray or pan A is the ice cube remover -which comprises a straight actuator bar I3 to be normally superimposed upon the body A at the longitudinal center thereof for disposition between the transversely disposed pockets I2- of the respective pairs formed 'in said' .body Ill'while depending within these pockets I2 are releasers -in the form of pins I4 provided with inwardly directed upper crank ends I5 at riglht angles thereto which at their meeting sides or faces adjacent to each other are flat faced at I6 while the remaining outer sides I1 of said crank ends I5 are rounded. The crank ends I5 aren adapted in the assembly thereof in the device to be overlapped one upon the other and in this relation to each other are accommodated in a circular hole or opening I8 formed transversely in the bar I3 and loosely fit therein for turning action and are retained by outstruck terminals I9 within said holes or openings I8. -The holes or openings I8 are uniformly spaced from each other in the bar I3 and under normal lay of such bar I3 the'pins I4 depend at an incline within the pockets I2 in close or contacting relation to the side walls of the said pockets I2 and the lower ends resting upon the bottoms of such pockets for a purpose presently described.

' Swingingly supported at one end of the bar I3 is a combined fulcrum and actuating lever 20, being pivoted at 2| to the said bar I3 and is provided with a hook-like fulcruming tip or toe 22 adapted for engagement with a.A reinforced end area 23 formed on the trayor panA at the longitudinalfcenter of its body I8. .This lever engaging the end 23 of the tray or pan A when swung vertically in an upward direction actuates the bar I3 for the shifting thereof and under this action through the crank ends I5 journaled in the holes I8 in said bar causes a rotation to the pins I4 and simultaneously therewith the said pins I4 are swung vertically from their normal inclined position to a substantially perpendic- 4ular or upright position within the pockets -I2 of the tray or pan A. This rotation of the pins I4 when the content of the pan or tray has become frozenv causes a breakingaway of the ice therefrom and creating within the ice cubes 'interstices or air passages and in this manner quick release and removal of the ice cubes from the pan or tray may be had. The swinging actvity 'of the pins I4 simultaneously with the rotation thereof imparted thereto from the crank ends I5 on the shifting of the bar I3 applies a pressure to the ice cubes and a shearing-like action of the pins thereon for dislodgement of the ice cubes within the vpockets I2 so 'thatthe saine can be readily4 removed or'extracted therefrom. Air

` admitted through the interstices or passages created by the pins I4 of the device assures a quick freeingby disrupture of the adherence of the ice withthe walls of the pockets for the release of said cubes.' During the rotary and swinging activity of the pins I4 the tip or toe 22 of the lever 28 has fulcrum action on the area 23 and 4thus Vertical -swing is imparted to the pins in that the .bar I3 under longitudinal sliding thereof. by'reason of its pivotal connection 2I with the said lever gradually rises from normal superimposed position upon the Atop of the pan or tray A,.'thecrankends vI5 being acted upon by the bar I3 for scissor-like motion and thus rotation of thel pins I4 will be had. A

In Figure 7 of the drawings there is shown a slight modification of the invention, whereinA the pockets 24for th'eice cubes are of substanfor the formation of the ice cubes and rising from this grid or rack 21 'at its longitudinal ceniter are pivot ears 38 and 3|, respectively, the

latter ear having pivoted at 32 thereto a link 33 while pivoted at 34 to the ear 30 is an actuator and fulcrum lever 35, the latter and the said link 33 being pivoted at 36 to a shift bar 31 identical in the working thereof to the bar I3 for actuat- .ing the releaser p'ins 38 similar to the pins I4.

This lever 35 has a fulcrum 'toe or tip.39 for engagement with the end reinforcement area of the pan 26 so Vthat on initially actuating the lever 35 the pins 38 will be rotated and swung vertically for the freeing or releasing of ice cubes ment of the lever 35 the toe or tip 39 fulcrums at .the area 40 on the panfor the bodily lifting.

of the rack or grid- 21 from theg-said pan 26 and in this manner the rack crgrid is removed from the pan andthe ice cubes released from the rack or grid for their quick and easy removal from within the pan or tray. 'l

In Figures 11 to 16 inclusive of the drawings i there is shown a still further modification of-the -fwithin the rack or grid 21 and on further moveinvention, wherein the pan or tray 4I has permanently formed therein the transversely ar- 6 ranged spaced dividers or partitions 42 integral with the longer side walls of said tray or pan while-saddling the said partitions or dividers 42. At the longitudinal center of the tray or pan is a center divider or grid 43 having the notches 44 opening through the bottom edge thereof for accommodating the dividers or partitions 42 and in this manner separating the pan into ice cube pockets 45 while at one end of this divider 43 and at its top edge is a pivot eye or ear 46 accommodating a pivot 41 for a combined actuator 'and fulcrum lever 4 8 adapted to swing vertically and pivotally linked at 49 to a cam slide 50 superimposed upon the divider 43 at its top edge and slidably .connected thereto at 5I and this slide next to the ear or eye 46 is slotted at 52 to provide a way for t e said ear or eye 46, on the shifting of the sli e 50 upon the Acenter grid or divider 43. In' this manner the slide 50 is guided longitudinally on the grid or divider 43. Formed next to the lowermost edge of the divider 43 and at opposite sides thereof are bearings 53 in which are journaled laterally swinging releasers, each in the form of a single length of stiff wire 54 bent on itself to provide straddling yokes 55 bridging the tranversely disposed partitions or dividers 42 and constituting releasing iingers, these being engaged in diagonally disposed cam slots 56 formed in the cam slide 50. Each wire 54 at each end 5l is upturned and engaged in a diagonal cam slot 58 in the slide 50. Thus when the slide 50 is shifted, it causes the swinging of the releasers by reason of the engagement of the yokes 55 in the cam slots 56 v`alildi'fhe ends5'l in y the slots 58 thusl acting upon `the ice cubes adhering to the partitions or dividers 612 for breaking loose such ice cubes within the pockets 45 in the tray or pan 4 I. The 'yokes Vare arrangedclose or in contacting relation to the partitions or dividers 42 and on the breaking of the ice cubes air cavities or passages are formed in the ice so as to enable the removal or release of the ice cubes from the pockets 45 with dispatch. The cam slide 50 is actuatedby the lever 48 which has afulcrum tip or toe 59 for contact with an end next thereto of the tray or pan 4I so that the center grid or divider 43 can be bodily lifted out of the tray or pan subsequent to the release of the ice cubes within the pockets 43 therein.

It is, of course, understood that in lieu of having the dividers or partitions 42 integral with the pan these can be made integral and projected laterally from opposite sides of the cent-er grid or divider 43 and thus effecting a releasable rack or grid for the tray or pan.

In Figures 1'? to 20 inclusive of the drawings there is shown a further modification, wherein certain of the yokes 60 constituting thereleaser ngers are formed with finger grips 6I so that the releasers can be manually operated by pressing the grips 6I toward eachotherand thus the lever and cam slide hereinbefore described may be entirely dispensed with. The wires 62 from which are bent the yokes 50 are journaled at 63 at opposite sides of the center divider or grid @il similarly to the releasers constituted by the wires iid in Figures 11 to 13 in the drawings. It is preferable to have the grips 6l located slightly removed from the opposite ends of the center The working of the releasers is practically a shearing action on the iced content of a tray or pan and might be effectual for the release of the cubes or the freeing thereof due to the proximity of the releasers to walls next thereto of the pan or tray or the rack or grid and a metal to metal activityor relationship of the device and tray or pan or rack or grid.v

The yokes 55 and til, respectively, are normally inclined within the tray or pan and are moved to a perpendicular or vertical position ior shearing action upon the ice content of the said i tray or panl and in this manner effecting quick removal or release of the ice cubes therefrom.

What is claimed is:

1. An ice cube remover for ice trays having a plurality of separated ice pockets, comprising movable members depending within the pockets close to walls-thereof and, adapted to be disposed normally at anl incline yand shiftable to asubstantially perpendicular position, and means active upon said members for imparting thereto.

2. An` ice cube` remover for ice trays having a plurality of separated ice pockets, comprising movable members depending within the pockets close to walls thereof and adapted to be disposed normally at an incline and shiftable to a substantially perpendicular position. and a lever having connection with said members for imparting motion thereto.

3. An ice cube remover for ice trays having a plurality of separated ice pockets, comprising movable members depending within the pockets close to walls thereof and adapted to be disposed normally at an incline and shiftable to a substantially perpendicular position, a lever having connection with said members for imparting motion thereto, and a fulcrum on said lever and active upon the tray for cooperation of said lever with the members for releasing effect thereto from the frozen content of the tray.

4. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of releasers for engagement in frozen content of an ice tray, a shiftable bar .active upon said releasers to impart movement thereto in unison with each other, a lever operating said bar, means on the lever for fulcrum action with the tray, means associated with said releasers for eifecting rotation and swinging movement thereto under the action of said bar, and a cube-forming grid associated with the said lever and releasers and releasably tted in the tray and bodily movable under the fulcrum action of said means. p

5. A device of the character described comprising a grid for fitting an ice tray, releasers swingingly connected with said grid and operative for freeing the frozen content of the tray, means for imparting movement to the said releasers, and means for rotating the releasers concurrently with the swinging movement thereof.

motion 

